Muffin scoring machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for scoring the periphery of English muffins preparatory for a tining operation which will facilitate manual separation of the muffin halves for toasting at time of use, comprising means for rolling the muffins edgewise against a guide rail which mounts a reciprocating knife for forming a cut of predetermined depth around the entire side wall of the muffin midway between the top and bottom grilled surfaces of the muffin, the muffin being rolled without slippage relative to the knife by pressurized engagement with means on the guide rail for positive engagement with the muffin side wall as it is rolled therealong.

O United States Patent [1 1 1111 3,877,330 Noel Apr. 15, 1975 MUFFINSCORING MACHINE 2,810,416 10/1957 Russell 83/6 x Inventor: Eugene M.Noel, Newton Highlands, 3,669,165 6/1972 Tobey et al 83/4 X Mass.Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Asslgneel l Schmidt, Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Rummler & Snow Worm eysburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1974 ['57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. N0.: 478,450 Amachine for scoring the periphery of English muffins preparatory for atining operation which will facil- 52 US. Cl. 83/6; 83/4; 83/427; l fSeparation of .l muffin halves mast mg at tlme of use, comprlsmg meansfor rolling the 83/431, 83/435.2, 83/44l.1

muffins edgewlse agalnst a gulde ra1l WhlCh mounts a [51] Int. Cl B26d3/08 k f f f d d [58] Field of Search 83/6, 4, 427, 431, 435.2,rwprocatmg 6 l 83/44Ll depth around the entire s1de wall of the muffinmidway between the top and bottom grilled surfaces of [56] ReferencesCited the muffin, the muffin being rolled without slippage relative tothe knife by pressurized engagement with UNITED STATES PATENTS means onthe guide rail for positive engagement with 2 E the muffin side wall asit is rolled therealong. rstmlc 2,803,279 8/1957 Strand 83/4 16 Claims,6 Drawing Figures MUFFIN SCORING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Itis a common practice'to prepare grilled muffins, before packaging forsale, for easy separation of the muffin halves at time of use, by meansof a forking" or tining operation with a plurality of uniformly spacedtines which are entered into the muffin from opposite sides thereof ininterdigitating relation. Usually, however. the muffin side walls arequite tough with the result that the pressure of the tines upon entryinto the muffin causes the muffin to be compressed laterally andpermanently misshapen. To overcome this defect in the tining operation,it has been proposed to score the muffin peripherally at the level oftine entry so that the tines need work only against the soft interior ofthe muffin. The mechanisms heretofore proposed for this scoringoperation have been rather complicated in structure and quite costly tobuild, relatively slow in operation, and lacking means for adjustment toaccommodate muffins of various sizes and thicknesses.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to providean improved machine for peripherally scoring English muffins which is ofsimplified construction and operation, which is positive in its scoringaction to score the entire periphery of the muffin, and which isextremely rapid in its action being capable of handling up to 300muffins per minute.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The herein disclosed muffin scoring machinecomprises a body having a horizontal passage means on its top surfacealong which the muffins are propelled between a fixed guide rail and ameans for engaging the muffins so as to cause them to roll edgewisealong the guide rail, the guide rail housing an elongated knife bladewhich extends along the guide rail and projects a predetermined distanceoutwardly from the muffin engaging surface thereof. Means are providedfor reciprocating the knife blade in the lengthwise direction, through apredetermined stroke distance, as the muffins are rolled therealong andthe means for rolling the muffins along the guide rail is arranged foradjustment toward and away from the guide rail to accommodate muffins ofvarious diameters. Also, means are included for adjusting the elevationof the muffin passage means relative to the knife blade whereby muffinsof various thickness can be scored precisely midway between the top andbottom grilled surfaces to provide equal muffin halves upon separationafter being tined at the same midway level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A specific embodiment of this invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved prescoring machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, showing themachine as seen from line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view ofthe machine, with the end wall panelremoved to show the drive arrangement for the muffin transport andperipheral scoring elements; 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectionalelevation as taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2to show in more detail the elements which function to transport andscore the muffin;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the drive for the reciprocating scoringelement; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, illustrating themanner in which the scoring element is mounted for reciprocatingmovement relative to its support.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS.1 and 2, the improved English muffin scoring machine comprises abox-like body 10 on the top of which is formed to receive a passagemeans inthe form of a muffin slide plate 12 which extends the length ofthe body 10 and somewhat beyond each end thereof, as at 14, the body 10being supported on a frame 15 having legs 16 each of which has a heightadjustment foot 18.

Muffins M delivered onto the slide plate 12 are propelled through themachine by the coaction of a muffin drive and turning belt 20, runningalong the rear side of the slide plate, and a fixed guide rail 22mounted at the opposite side of the slide plate, the turning belt 20traveling between pulleys 24 and 26 and engaging the sides of themuffins to cause them to roll against the guide rail 22 and slide alongthe plate 12. As shown, the pulleys 24 and 26 are journaled on verticalaxes and the belt 20 travels in a vertical plane so as to flatly engagethe sides of the muffins, the belt being guided by a channel-likebacking member 28 mounted on a turning belt frame 30 which also supportsthe pulleys 24 and 26.

The turning belt frame 30 is mounted on the top of the body 10 so as tobe slidable toward and away from the fixed guide rail 22, to adjust forEnglish muffins of different diameters, and is held in adjusted positionby means of. locking bolts 32 disposed adjacent the ends of the frame 30and which extend through the frame 30 and into the top of the body 10through suitable slots 34 therein, as shown in FIG. 4. The turning beltframe 30 is held square on the top ofthe body 10 and against lateralmovement, in the direction of turning belt travel, by means of anglemembers 35 secured to the frame 30 and disposed to engage the ends ofthe machine body 10.

Adjustment of the frame 20, relative to the opposite guide rail 22 ishad by means of a screw 36 extending into the body 10 from the rearthereof and threadedly engaging a coupling nut 38 welded onto a slidebar 39 which extends lengthwise of the frame 30 and is secured to theclamping bolts 32. The screw 36 is operated by a turning knob 40, asindicated in FIG. 1.

The fixed guide rail 22, against which the muffins are rolled, ismounted on the top of the body 10 at the edge of the muffin slide plate12 and this member carries a reciprocable knife 42 for scoring theperiphery of the muffins as they are rolled along, edgewise against theguide rail 22, under the driving force and pressure of the turning belt20, and to prevent any slipping of the muffins, or failure to roll alongthe rail and to engage the entire muffin periphery with the scoringknife, a series of uniformly spaced pins 44 is mounted along the rail,directly below the knife 42, to engage the periphery of the lowerone-half of the muffin. This provides a perfect rolling action of themuffins as they pass through the machine, regardless of how rapidly theyare moving, and hence assures perfectly uniform scoring of the peripheryof each muffin,.the scoring blade being of a length at least 1 /2 timesthe circumference of the largest muffin to be processed.

The mounting of the scoring knife 42 is shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 and inthe structure shown the knife is carried by a slider assembly 46, madeup of a pair of back-to-back angles 48 and 50. This assembly includes anupwardly projecting post 52 on the inner angle 48, on which the knifeblade 42 is positioned, and a downwardly projecting spool 54 by whichthe slider assembly and knife are connected with the reciprocation driveelements. In the form shown, the guide rail 22 is a composite structurecomprising a pair of elongate inner and outer members 56 and 58,suitably secured together in face-to-face relation and capped by a topplate 60 to provide a unitary guide rail assembly. About midway of thelength of this guide rail 22 the mutually facing surfaces of the members56 and 58 are relieved sufficiently to receive the slider assembly 46between them, the length of such relief being somewhat greater than thestroke of the slider assembly during reciprocation of the scoring knife42. Also, the top surface of the inner rail member 56 is relieved in theslide area to receive the upper arm of the angle 48, the top plate 60 isprovided with a slotted recess to receive the post 52 by which thescoring knife is connected to the slider assembly, and the thickness ofthe inner rail member 56 is sufficiently less than that of the rear orouter rail member 58 to permit free sliding action of the knife 42 as itreciprocates.

The rail members 56 and 60, which are the main slide elements, are madeof a low friction material, such as Delrin, and to minimize frictionbetween the slider assembly 46 and the outer rail member 58, which ispreferably of cold rolled steel, the member 58 is recessed in the slidermovement area to a depth of about onehalf the width of the member 58 andfor a length sufficient to receive a bearing plate 62 that is at leastas long as the slider assembly stroke. The bearing plate 62 ispreferably of the same material as the rail members 56 and 60 and issecured to the outer rail 58 by suitably screws 64. 7

At this point it will be understood that the backing guide 28 for themuffin turning belt is also made of a low friction material such asDelrin.

The drive for the moving elements of the scoring machine comprises amotor 70 having a shaft extension carrying a pair of pulleys 71 and 72.A belt 73 connects the pulley 71 with a pulley 74 mounted on the lowerend of a shaft 75 which carries an eccentric, or crank member 76,connected to the slider spool 64 by means of a crank arm 77. Operationof the crank member 76 and arm 77 reciprocates the slider assembly 46 toreciprocate the knife or muffin scoring blade 42. As shown in FIG. 3,the shaft 75 is mounted in bearings 78 which in turn are mounted onspacer blocks 79 suitably secured to the front wall 80 of the body 10.

The pulley 72 on the motor 70 connects with a pulley 81 by means of abelt 82 and the pulley 81, in turn, drives a shaft 83 which carries apulley 84 which connects with the turning belt drive shaft 85 by meansof a belt 86 and pulley 87.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the turning belt drive shaft 85 extendsthrough and above the top of the body 10 where it carries a turning beltdrive pulley 88, the shaft 85 being supported in bearings 89 and 90mounted on the rear wall of the body 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the turning belt 20 is trained over an idler pulley91 carried by a swing arm 92, which is pivoted at its opposite end on avertical shaft 93. The shaft 93 is spring actuated, by means not shown,to swing the arm 92 counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 1, and thus causethe idler pulley 91 to serve as a constant and automatically adjustablebelt tightening or tensioning means. From the belt tensioning pulley 91,the muffin turning belt runs over the pulley 24 and along the guide rail28 to the pulley 26 and thence to return to the drive pulley 88.

By virtue of the horizontally adjustable turning belt frame 30 and theautomatically adjustable turning belt tensioning means 91, 92, and 93,the muffin scoring machine can readily be made to accommodatesubstantially all conventional English muffin diameters. Adjustment ofthe slide plate 12 to accommodate different thicknesses of the muffinsis had by varying its height relative to the scoring blade 42 so thatthe score line cut into the muffin periphery will be half way betweenthe top and bottom of the muffin. This adjustment of the slide plate 12is had by means of suitable bolts 94 extending through the sides of thechannel 95 formed in top of the body 10 to receive the slide plate 12,the bolts being located near the ends of the channel and passing throughvertical slots in the sides of the slide plate where they can be reachedfor manipulation to loosen and tighten them for slide plate heightadjustment.

In the operation of the herein described muffin scoring machine,themuffins M are usually fed into the machine by means of a conveyorbelt which is entered between the extension of the turning belt frame 30and the guide rail 22 so that the muffins will be engaged by the turningbelt 200 and brought over a lift roller 96 onto the slide plate 12, theturning belt 20 pressing the muffins edgewise against the guide rail 22so as to cause the muffins to turn about their vertical axes and rollalong the rail 22.

As the muffins enter onto the slide plate, they become engaged by thepins 44 projecting from the guide rail 22 and this compels the muffinsto roll, without slippage relative to the guide rail, through the entirelength of the slide plate and the operating zone of the reciprocatingknife.

Preferably the knife blade 42 extends beyond the guide rail 22 aboutone-quarter inch so as to cut a score line one-quarter inch deep in theperiphery of the muffin and the pins 44, which prevent the muffin fromsliding under the action of the reciprocating knife 42, project a likedistance. From the scoring machine, the muffins are delivered directlyto a muffin tining machine where the banks of interdigitating tines areentered into the muffins from opposite sides and precisely at the scoreline in the muffin periphery. This produces an English muffin that isclosed against interior drying, which occurs in sliced muffins, and yetis easily broken apart by hand at the time of use to form halves ofequal thickness with the rough textured surface so necessary to toastingquality and taste.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of thestructure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A muffin scoring device comprising a generally horizontal worksurface having a passageway extending from end to end of the worksurface for muffins to pass therealong, a guide rail extending along oneside of said passage, a reciprocable knife blade extending lengthwise ofsaid guide rail and projecting a predetermined distance therefrom intosaid passageway, and means extending along the opposite side of saidpassage for rolling muffins edgewise along said guide rail forperipheral engagement with the projecting edge of said knife blade.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide rail and themeans for rolling the muffins extend a substantially equal distancebeyond each end of the said passageway.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rolling themuffins along the guide rail engages the muffins peripherally to urgethem toward and along the guide rail.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide rail is providedwith means for positively engaging the periphery of muffins as they rollalong the guide rail to prevent their slippage relative to the knifeblade and assure complete engagement of the muffin periphery therewith.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided forreciprocating the knife blade through a predetermined stroke distance.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rolling themuffins along the guide rail comprises an endless belt which flatlyengages the periph er of the muffins and urges them toward the guiderail.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rolling themuffins is adjustable toward and away from the guide rail to accommodatemuffins of different diameters.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the passageway has a flatsurface against which the muffins slide and means is provided foradjusting the relative distance between the said flat surface and theknife blade to accommodate muffins of different thicknesses whereby theknife blade may engage the periphery of the muffins midway between theopposite end surfaces thereof.

9. A device according to claim 2 wherein the means for rolling themuffins along the guide rail comprises an endless belt having a flatsurface for engaging the side wall of the muffins to urge them againstthe guide rail, and the passageway comprises a generally horizontal flatsurface.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the endless belt runs parallelwith the guide rail for substantially the length thereof, and means isprovided for adjusting the belt toward and away from the guide rail.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein means is provided foradjusting the relative distance between the plane of the knife blade andthe plane of the passageway surface to position muffins of differentthicknesses for knife blade engagement midway between the muffin endfaces.

12. A device according to claim 9 wherein the guide rail is providedwith a series of spaced apart pins extending along the guide rail belowthe knife blade, the pins projecting into the passageway for engagingthe periphery of the muffin as the muffin is rolled along the guide railby the said belt.

13. A muffin scoring machine comprising a body having a horizontal topsurface and flat passageway extending from end to end thereof formuffins to pass therealong,

a. a guide rail mounted on said top surface along one side of saidpassageway,

b. a longitudinally extending reciprocable knife blade mounted on theguide rail with a cutting edge projecting into the passageway,

c. an endless belt mounted at the opposite side of the passageway andrunning lengthwise thereof in a plane normal thereto,

d. a rigid channel-like backing member extending parallel with the guiderail for supporting and guiding the run of said belt along thepassageway,

e. said guide rail and belt backing member extending beyond each end ofsaid passageway,

f. means for reciprocating said knife blade and driving said belt, and Ig. means for adjusting said belt backing member toward and away from theguide rail whereby the belt will engage the side wall of muffinsentering said passageway face downward and cause them to roll againstand along the length of the guide rail for a peripheral scoringengagement with said knife blade.

14. The scoring machine defined by claim 13 wherein the passagewaycomprises a slide plate along which the muffins travel as they arerolled against the guide rail.

15. The scoring machine defined by claim 13 wherein the guide rail isprovided with a series of spaced apart pins extending the length thereofbelow the plane of said knife blade, the pins projecting into saidpassageway for engaging the periphery of the muffins as they are rolledalong the guide rail to prevent slipping of the muffins relative to theguide rail under the reciprocating action of the knife blade.

16. The muffin scoring machine defined by claim 15 wherein thepassageway comprises a slide plate on which the muffins are supported asthey are rolled along and against the guide rail.

1. A muffin scoring device comprising a generally horizontal worksurface having a passageway extending from end to end of the worksurface for muffins to pass therealong, a guide rail extending along oneside of said passage, a reciprocable knife blade extending lengthwise ofsaid guide rail and projecting a predetermined distance therefrom intosaid passageway, and means extending along the opposite side of saidpassage for rolling muffins edgewise along said guide rail forperipheral engagement with the projecting edge of said knife blade. 2.An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide rail and the meansfor rolling the muffins extend a substantially equal distance beyondeach end of the said passageway.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein the means for rolling the muffins along the guide rail engagesthe muffins peripherally to urge them toward and along the guide rail.4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide rail is providedwith means for positively engaging the periphery of muffins as they rollalong the guide rail to prevent their slippage relative to the knifeblade and assure complete engagement of the muffin periphery therewith.5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided forreciprocating the knife blade through a predetermined stroke distance.6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rolling themuffins along the guide rail comprises an endless belt which flatlyEngages the periphery of the muffins and urges them toward the guiderail.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for rollingthe muffins is adjustable toward and away from the guide rail toaccommodate muffins of different diameters.
 8. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the passageway has a flat surface against which themuffins slide and means is provided for adjusting the relative distancebetween the said flat surface and the knife blade to accommodate muffinsof different thicknesses whereby the knife blade may engage theperiphery of the muffins midway between the opposite end surfacesthereof.
 9. A device according to claim 2 wherein the means for rollingthe muffins along the guide rail comprises an endless belt having a flatsurface for engaging the side wall of the muffins to urge them againstthe guide rail, and the passageway comprises a generally horizontal flatsurface.
 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the endless belt runsparallel with the guide rail for substantially the length thereof, andmeans is provided for adjusting the belt toward and away from the guiderail.
 11. A device according to claim 9 wherein means is provided foradjusting the relative distance between the plane of the knife blade andthe plane of the passageway surface to position muffins of differentthicknesses for knife blade engagement midway between the muffin endfaces.
 12. A device according to claim 9 wherein the guide rail isprovided with a series of spaced apart pins extending along the guiderail below the knife blade, the pins projecting into the passageway forengaging the periphery of the muffin as the muffin is rolled along theguide rail by the said belt.
 13. A muffin scoring machine comprising abody having a horizontal top surface and flat passageway extending fromend to end thereof for muffins to pass therealong, a. a guide railmounted on said top surface along one side of said passageway, b. alongitudinally extending reciprocable knife blade mounted on the guiderail with a cutting edge projecting into the passageway, c. an endlessbelt mounted at the opposite side of the passageway and runninglengthwise thereof in a plane normal thereto, d. a rigid channel-likebacking member extending parallel with the guide rail for supporting andguiding the run of said belt along the passageway, e. said guide railand belt backing member extending beyond each end of said passageway, f.means for reciprocating said knife blade and driving said belt, and g.means for adjusting said belt backing member toward and away from theguide rail whereby the belt will engage the side wall of muffinsentering said passageway face downward and cause them to roll againstand along the length of the guide rail for a peripheral scoringengagement with said knife blade.
 14. The scoring machine defined byclaim 13 wherein the passageway comprises a slide plate along which themuffins travel as they are rolled against the guide rail.
 15. Thescoring machine defined by claim 13 wherein the guide rail is providedwith a series of spaced apart pins extending the length thereof belowthe plane of said knife blade, the pins projecting into said passagewayfor engaging the periphery of the muffins as they are rolled along theguide rail to prevent slipping of the muffins relative to the guide railunder the reciprocating action of the knife blade.
 16. The muffinscoring machine defined by claim 15 wherein the passageway comprises aslide plate on which the muffins are supported as they are rolled alongand against the guide rail.